Maratus julianneae Baer & Whyte 2016

Otto, Jürgen C. & Hill, David E., 2017, Five new peacock spiders from eastern Australia (Araneae: Salticidae: Euophryini: Maratus Karsch 1878 and Saratus, new genus), Peckhamia 147 (1), pp. 1-86 : 34

Maratus julianneae Baer & Whyte 2016

Only the male Maratus julianneae has been described, recorded from Tussock grass and Callitris grass at two sites in Carnarvon Station , central Queensland . The type male is 4.21 mm in length. The distinctive shape of the two apices of the embolus clearly places this species in the anomalus group with the other grassland peacock spiders ( Baehr & Whyte 2016).

Diagnosis. Except for the pedipalps and legs III, the pattern of scales and setae of the body and appendages of M. julianneae resemble those of M. cinereus . This similarity extends to the detailed pattern of the dorsal opisthosoma (fan), but the pair of small black spots toward the rear of the fan are larger and closer to the front in M. julianneae . The pedipalps are quite different when viewed from the front, with the presence of a band of bright white setae dorsally in M. julianneae , contrasting with the dark ventral bulb of each pedipalp ( Figure 37 : 7). Legs III are also different, black and fringed with many black setae from the femur to the proximal metatarsus, then distally covered with white setae in M. julianneae . In M. cinereus legs III are quite different, covered with white to off-white scales and setae, and marked along their length by a narrow black stripe. Use of legs III in courtship display is also quite different.

Courtship display. The male shown here ( Figures 37-38 ) is the holotype described by Baehr & Whyte (2016). Courtship is relatively simple like that of M. anomalus , with the fan elevated and both legs III extended and elevated in a partially flexed position. The pedipalps, covered dorsally with bright white setae, are held together during this display so that the white setae of both pedipalps form a white band in front of the clypeus, under the anterior eye row. This fixed posture is maintained as the male steps from side to side.

Figures

Figure 37. Living holotype male Maratus julianneae from Carnarvon Station, Queensland. Note the iridescent rear margins of the dorsal opisthosomal plate. Overall the scale cover is grey, with numerous, small brown spots on all except the most posterior part of the fan. As for other male grassland peacock spiders, there is no marginal band but there are two short vertical bands on each side of the carapace and a wide white band behind each PLE.

Figure 38. Sequential frames (5fps from a 25fps video) showing the display of the holotype male M. julianneae. This male first stepped to his right (1-5), then to his left (9-17), then back to his right (19-24) with legs, pedipalps, and fan fixed.